CVE-2002-1896 in Alsaplayer
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Alsaplayer 0.99.71, when installed setuid root, allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a long (1) -f or (2) -o command line argument.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1896 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in the Alsaplayer multimedia application version 0.99.71. This issue arises from improper input validation within the application's command line argument parsing mechanism, specifically when the program is executed with elevated privileges through its setuid root configuration. The vulnerability manifests when users provide excessively long arguments to either the -f or -o command line options, creating conditions that allow memory corruption and potential code execution. The buffer overflow occurs because the application fails to properly bounds-check user-supplied input before copying it into fixed-size memory buffers, a fundamental security weakness that has been classified under CWE-121 as improper restriction of operations within a fixed buffer.
When Alsaplayer executes with setuid root privileges, the security implications become particularly severe as local attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated system access. The buffer overflow allows malicious input to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting the stack and enabling attackers to redirect program execution flow. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes the use of legitimate credentials to execute code, and more specifically relates to privilege escalation tactics where attackers leverage existing system permissions to achieve higher privileges. The exploitation process typically involves crafting malicious command line arguments that overwrite return addresses or function pointers in memory, allowing arbitrary code execution with root privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it creates a persistent security risk within systems that utilize the affected Alsaplayer version. System administrators who have installed Alsaplayer with setuid root permissions inadvertently create an attack surface that can be exploited by local users to compromise the entire system. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate execution environment but also potentially exposes other system resources that the application might have access to, including file system access and network communication capabilities. This scenario demonstrates the critical importance of proper privilege management and input validation in security-sensitive applications, as the combination of setuid execution and unchecked input handling creates a dangerous security configuration that violates the principle of least privilege.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1896 should prioritize immediate remediation through software updates or patches provided by the application maintainers. System administrators must also implement comprehensive privilege management policies to eliminate unnecessary setuid installations and conduct thorough security audits of all applications with elevated permissions. The vulnerability highlights the necessity of implementing proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms in all software components, particularly those operating with elevated privileges. Additionally, deploying runtime protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and non-executable stack protections can provide additional layers of defense against similar buffer overflow exploits. Organizations should also establish regular vulnerability assessment procedures to identify and remediate similar security flaws in their software environments, as this vulnerability represents a classic example of how improper memory management can create exploitable conditions in privilege-executing applications.